The Island of Failed Commitments Part IV

 After over a week away from blogging I'm back for the final segment of our discussion on commitment and goals. We have covered quite a bit these past few posts and we have discussed in detail three of the four biggest commitment killers. As we bring this study to a close I want to talk about the fourth killer. This one is probably the most overlooked and yet on the other hand it's the area that can give you the edge necessary to accomplish your goals and keep your commitments. 


3) Absence of Accountability 
Accountability is something you hear talked about quite often though you probably don't see or hear it put into practice near as often. Often accountability can be just what is needed to help us keep a commitment or reach a goal. Think of the goals you have reached in the past, whether losing weight, quitting smoking, reading the Bible more, or eating healthier you were probably most successful when you had someone either working toward the same goal with you or alongside you encouraging you and cheering you on. Many times when we feel like giving up or compromising a simple word of encouragement or reminder of the consequences can go a long way. The Bible speaks of this principle in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 which says,  
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Whatever your goal or commitment is I strongly urge you to find someone to be your cheerleader. Find someone who can help you press toward the finish line. 
Now, I wish I could say I am really good with this and I always have accountability in my life; however, I don't. I often struggle in this area especially when it comes to my spiritual life because it is much more personal than health or fitness goal. I have only recently started looking for accountability in my personal life, but let me tell you it is worth doing. A good definition for accountability in your personal life is giving someone full permission to ask you the tough questions. It is easy to go through life sweeping our struggles and sins under the rug, but it changes things when we give someone the permission to check under the rug regularly. 
James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The Bible talks of bearing each others' burdens and confessing our faults to each other, yet so often we try to go it alone. (I will talk more about this in another post sometime) 


In review here are the four keys to reaching your goals and keeping your commitments.
1) Take a step back and survey the whole picture of what the goal/commitment entails. Be sure you are ready
2) Have a plan. Don't run into it blind.
3) Beware of compromise. Set boundaries. Don't leave room for excuses.
4) Seek accountability. Get a personal cheerleader.


So my challenge to you as we wrap up this commitment series is to make the necessary changes to keep your commitments. It's worth the extra effort. It's worth pushing your comfort zone. You won't regret it.

The Island of Failed Commitments Part III

The last two posts covered two of the four things that often cause our commitments to fail. We talked in depth about taking all angles into consideration before setting a goal. We talked about doing a reality check as to what all this new goal or ambition will entail in order to make sure we are ready to take the next step. We also talked about planning and having a course of action. Setting up the what, where, when, and how's. In today's post I want to talk about the third thing that is a huge goal assassin. It's nothing new or deep and can be summed up in one word.

3) Compromise
The third thing I see that is a common killer of commitments is compromise. This happens all too often. We set a goal and once things start getting tough we start compromising. We set a goal to run five miles a week and after two weeks we realize how hard it is and say, "well four miles is pretty good too". This wouldn't be a huge deal if it stopped there, but the all too common occurrence is to continue to compromise until you are far from your intended goal.

The Island of Failed Commitments Part II

Last post we started the blog series "The Island of Failed Commitments" and we have been discussing, you guessed it, failed commitments. I mentioned that although there are a host of reasons we fail to reach our goals and resolutions I see four main causes we fail to turn intentions into results. The first was "A Haphazard Oversight of Reality". So without further ado here is number two.

2) Failure to Plan
The second cause of failed commitments I see is a failure to plan. It's not an astounding principle, but if overlooked it will get you every time. Any commitment run into hastily or carelessly is less likely to succeed. Some basic planning and preparation can have a huge impact on our goals.

The Island of Failed Commitments Part I

Well after about two or three weeks I decided to go back to the gym this past Monday morning. I'm glad I did. It was nice to get back into working out. I feel better and healthier when I work out regularly. It's not a surprising statement, but a rather simple principle. As I was running on the treadmill for about ten minutes (I have to ease back in right?) I was thinking about my mindset when I first got my membership. I remember I was so excited and ready to go three or more times a week. I was planning on eating better and boosting my protein intake; the whole works. Yet, here I am a few months later and for some strange reason I have totally fell off the horse and had to make a serious effort to even get back to the gym.
So why do my/our commitments fail so much? Why is the graveyard of my/our past commitments and resolutions so...well...stinking huge?